Posted on 01/18/2009 9:09:06 AM PST by NormsRevenge
One of the religious leaders invited to address Barack Obama’s inaugural prayer service Wednesday heads an Islamic group named by federal prosecutors as a co-conspirator in a terrorism-fundraising trial in Texas.
Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, is scheduled to join Christian ministers and Jewish rabbis offering prayers for the new president and his family during a service at the National Cathedral in Washington, organizers announced Friday.
Mattson’s group calls itself “the largest Muslim umbrella organization” in North America. However, in May 2007, federal prosecutors included ISNA on a list of nearly 300 co-conspirators filed in a criminal case charging that the Holy Land Foundation of Richardson, Texas, funneled more than $12 million to Hamas.
The U.S. government designated Hamas as a terrorist group in 1995.
A trial in Dallas in 2007 for the foundation and five of its leaders ended with acquittals and mistrials. However, Holy Land and the five officials were convicted of all 108 charges in a second trial last year.
A spokeswoman for the inaugural, Linda Douglass, hailed Ms. Mattson as “a widely respected faith leader with a stellar reputation.”
“We are delighted to have her as part of a program that is inclusive, welcomes people of all faiths and is consistent with the president elect’s message of unity,” the spokeswoman told Politico Friday. “All of these are people who preach tolerance.”
Ms. Douglass noted that Ms. Mattson appeared with little controversy at an interfaith service prior to the Democratic National Convention in Denver last August. However, that appearance came prior to the jury’s guilty verdicts in November affirming the existence of the conspiracy to aid Hamas. Mattson’s group, ISNA, was never named as a defendant in the Holy Land case. Jurors were not asked to determine what role, if any, ISNA played in aid of Hamas.
Indeed, leaders of ISNA and two other Islamic groups have complained bitterly that being included on the list of co-conspirators sullied their reputations and violated Justice Department regulations. Last year, ISNA and a related organization, the North American Islamic Trust, filed a motion asking a judge to strike the list and rebuke the prosecution for filing it. The groups, which have not been charged with a crime, called the public filing a “smear.”
The court has not ruled on the groups’ motion, but in a brief filed last July, federal prosecutor James Jacks said there was ample evidence of the Islamic groups’ ties to the Holy Land Foundation.
“During last year's trial, numerous exhibits were entered into evidence establishing both ISNA's and NAIT's intimate relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Palestine Committee, and the defendants in this case," Mr. Jacks wrote . "They were intimately connected with the HLF and its assigned task of providing financial support to HAMAS. ... That ISNA and NAIT appeared in these documents and share a common history with these defendants is a reflection of the evidence, not any attempt to 'disparage' or 'vilify.'"
Tapping my fingers waiting for the MSM to inform the Obama lovers about this.
I AM SHOCKED, I TELL YOU, SHOCKED! S/
It just shows the great diversity that this new administration is encompassed with. It is the dawn of a new age in this country where we will welcome with open arms and live side by side with the sworn enemies of this country.
Of such attitudes is the new America being built upon.
If you see any problem with this, any problem at all, you will be silenced.
This will bring peace and love back to America.
Hallelujah
Insensitive!
Xenophobe!
Mean Spirited!
Do you really think now that he's President he won't play the same old game of self victimization, that the media will actually report on anything other than how pretty Mrs. Obama’s dress is?
Expect four years of happy and glad times, where anything negative is casually downplayed, those making any negative comments are attacked, and even if nothing is accomplished, it will be hailed as some wonderful success by the historic first black President. The man has a halo over his head as far as the media is concerned.
Related article:
Obama prayer leader from group US linked to Hamas
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/01/17/america/Inauguration-Prayer.php
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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I'm sure the Rabbis and Ministers participating hang out with terrorists too.
When I saw you first two sentences, I got the impression you were a pro-”Osama” Obama troll. Changed my opinion quickly, though, realizing that you were merely being sarcastic.
As far as Obama lovers go, they are either to stupid to read this or too stupid for it to make any impact on their positive opinion of him.
Unfortunately, we'll require another 9/11 or even worse under Obama's watch before some of these Obama-loving fools to get it - if they're still alive, that is.
The Messiah has disgraced all those that were murdered on 9/11 by Islamic terrorists. Where is the media’s exposure of that?
The Messiah has disgraced all those that were murdered on 9/11 by Islamic terrorists. Where is the media’s exposure of that?
They are mindless pinheads who don’t know how to investigate. It’s easier sitting at your computer making stuff up.
Interesting, wonder if she’s a citizen.
And so it begins, even before it begins. God save this great republic from our Kenyan-born president.
Thanks for posting. This disgrace and treason, which libertards ignore, is still more fuel to the fire that is going to burn the house down.
SOmehow he has to repay the arabs for their campaign donations - I’m pretty sure his televised talk to the ‘arab street’ was the just the beginning.
Not my idea - Savage brought it up tonite in his rants. He is beginning to miss President Bush, after having nothing good to say about the man for the past several years.
At least now he has a cause worth ranting about, and once in a while a nugget of sense emerges. Like the ‘payback’ explanation, which makes a ton of sense if you think about it.
Next stop - foot washing basins in all government buildings.
And the Obama girls will look lovely in their headscarves. Get ready.
I’m sure the Liberal God has started organizing his Gestapo and has ordered designs to be drawn up for his re-education camps. Yes, it is that bad, IMO!
I know how you feel. But it is up to us to stand resolute. Obama is little better than a pimp. Carter only made one term and I'm sure Obama will do no better.
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